September marks a month long celebration of the Quokka's birthday on Rottnest Island.

The Quokka was first observed by a European in 1658 when the Dutchman, Volkersen, wrote that it resembled an Asian civet cat, but with brown hair. In 1696 de Vlamingh described the quokka as "a kind of rat as big as a common cat". He named the Island 'Rotte nest' (meaning 'rat's nest') and the name of the Island was eventually adapted to 'Rottnest'.

Kaija Antipas, Ranger on Rottnest Island joined us on "Remember When" to discuss the history of the small marsupial, why it make's sense to celebrate their birthday in September and lets us know why the "happiest animal on Earth" needs little water to survive.

September marks a month long celebration of the Quokka's birthday on Rottnest Island.
The Quokka was first observed by a European in 1658 when the Dutchman, Volkersen, wrote that it resembled an Asian civet cat, but with brown hair. In 1696 de Vlamingh described the quokka as "a kind of rat as big as a common cat". He named the Island 'Rotte nest' (meaning 'rat's nest') and the name of the Island was eventually adapted to 'Rottnest'.
Kaija Antipas, Ranger on Rottnest Island joined us on "Remember When" to discuss the history of the small marsupial, why it make's sense to celebrate their birthday in September and lets us know why the "happiest animal on Earth" needs little water to survive.

Remember When – an entertaining romp through bygone days every Sunday night. Join Harvey Deegan and guests as they bring history and our heritage back to life.

Remember When with Harvey Deegan

Kaija Antipas - Rottnest Ranger

Richard Offen  - Historian, Author, Broadcaster

The original accommodation for the post war english migration

Richard Offen&nbsp; -&nbsp;Historian, Author, Broadcaster
The original accommodation for the post war english migration

Historian Richard Offen, 28 December 2025

Ernie Manning  

Racing Historian 

with 
Bernie Ryan - the rider of two Perth Cup winners

and 

James Oldring - Perth Racing chief executive  

The Perth Cup

Ernie Manning&nbsp;&nbsp;
Racing Historian&nbsp;
with&nbsp; Bernie Ryan - the rider of two Perth Cup winners
and&nbsp;
James Oldring - Perth Racing chief executive&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Perth Cup

Racing Historian Ernie Manning with Bernie Ryan and James Oldring ,28 December 2025

Peter FitzSimons’ next book is on Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop. 

 Weary Dunlop was an exceptional person – his humility and compassion as an Australian POW and Surgeon on the Thai-Burma railway saved so many lives. Some of the stories Peter recounts are harrowing, but they also capture Weary’s humanity – like when he stood between a Japanese soldier’s bayonet and his blind, paraplegic patient; or when he took out a fellow POW’s ”perforated duodenal ulcer” in the deep jungle of Thailand, with ‘the fitful light of weak hurricane lamps . . . a beam of a torch . . . a needle made from hardened copper wire and catgut thread made from the intestines of animals . . .”

Peter FitzSimons&rsquo; next book is on Sir Edward &lsquo;Weary&rsquo; Dunlop.&nbsp;
&nbsp;Weary Dunlop was an exceptional person &ndash; his humility and compassion as an Australian POW and Surgeon on the Thai-Burma railway saved so many lives. Some of the stories Peter recounts are harrowing, but they also capture Weary&rsquo;s humanity &ndash; like when he stood between a Japanese soldier&rsquo;s bayonet and his blind, paraplegic patient; or when he took out a fellow POW&rsquo;s &rdquo;perforated duodenal ulcer&rdquo; in the deep jungle of Thailand, with &lsquo;the fitful light of weak hurricane lamps . . . a beam of a torch . . . a needle made from hardened copper wire and catgut thread made from the intestines of animals . . .&rdquo;

Kaija Antipas - Rottnest Ranger

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